Stave porch-column.



W. R. RIPLEY.

STAVE PORCH COLUMN.

APPLIGATION FILED 001. 24, 1911.

1,1 1 0,008, Patented Sept. 8, 1914,

WITNESSES. IN l/E/V TOR (a W Mam flap/e A TTOR/VEY WILLIAM R. RIPLEY, OF TACOMA, WASHINGTON.

STAVE PORCH-COLUMN.

Application filed October 24, 1911. Serial No. 656,441.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 8, 1914.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM R. RIPLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Tacoma, in the county of Pierce and State of Vi ashington, have invented a new and useful Stave Porch-Column, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in wooden porch columns and has for its objects to provide a built-up conical column, in which all of the staves are secured together by a simple dovetail connection and in which the staves are formed so that when the column is completed the outer surface thereof will be under heavy peripheral compression thus allowing a smooth finish to the column and preventing the joint from opening under stress of weather or other conditions. 1 attain these and other objects by the devices, forms, and arrangements illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure l is an end view showing my improved column in the process of manufacture and illustrating particularly the joints thereof before the last stave has been in serted therein; Fig. 2 is a similar view of the completed column illustrating particularly the compressed outer periphery thereof and the opened inner joints; and Fig. 3 is a larger view showing a portion of a pair of adjoining staves in section after the column has been turned down to shape and illustrating the compressed outer surface of the finished column.

Similar numerals of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

My improved conical column is composed of a number of similar staves 1, each of which has a dovetail groove :2 extending along one side 3 and a corresponding tenon a on the other side Each stave l is of uniform thickness but the sides 3 and 5 are uniformly tapered and beveled. The angle at which these sides 3 and 5 are beveled is such that if all the staves but one are connected together (as in Fig. 1) the distance between the first and last staves in the group, at their butt ends, is equal to the width of a stave at its narrow end, so that the narrow end of the last stave of the column may be inserted therebetween, engaging the butt ends of both of said staves with its tenon and groove and said staves will not have to be drawn to engage said last stave.

It will be noted that in Fig. 1 the joints between adjacent staves are unstrained and that the unfilled space is of width of the narrow end of one stave. As the last stave is forced into the column, narrow end first, it is evident that the space occupied thereby will increase in width as it advances and that therefore the distance between the two staves on each side of it will together in order increase, the periphery and diameter will also be increased, and it is also evident that the inner ends of the joints must be spread apart because the inner periphery is also increased. The tenons fit fairly tightly in the grooves when the column is being assembled (Fig. 1) but when the last stave is inserted they are put under considerable strain as the outer edges-of the staves are put into compression and their inner edges are separated (Fig. 2). hen in their completed positions, the inner surfaces of the tenon and groove are substantially parallel so that if glue is used in the joints it will have an even hold thereon. l/Vhen the column is completed it may be turned down to any desired shape, and since the tenon and groove are near the inner edge of the staves, the Wood thereof between the tenon and the outer edge is practically all under compression, thus making substantially uniformly compressed joints in the outer surface of the column no matter how much wood is cut therefrom in shaping the column. The bevel of the staves is radial for a circle with center K (Fig. l) and whose diameter is less than the diameter of the assembled column with center O (Fig. 2), and the converging planes in the completed column meet at points X spaced around the center O (Fig. Any desired number of staves may be used.

Having described claim is:

1. A conical stave my invention, what I column comprising a plurality of similar, tapered staves, each dovetailed to the adjoining staves, the bevcled sides of each stave being radial to a circle of less diameter than the assembled column whereby, previous to the insertion of the last stave, the remainder of the column may be so arranged that the space for the last stave may be such that its widest part substantially the may correspond to the smaller end of said stave, so that said end may register with and engage the interfitting parts of the staves on each side to permit the introduction and driving to place of the said last stave.

2. A conical stave column, comprising a plurality of similar, tapered staves, each having a sliding undercut interlocking engagement with the adjoining staves, the beveled sides of each stave being radial to a circle of less diameter than the assembled column whereby, previous to the insertion of the last stave, the remainder of the column may be so arranged that the space for the last stave may be such that its widest part may correspond to the smaller end of said stave, so that said end may register with and en gage the interfitting parts of the staves on each side to permlt the introduction and driving to place of the said last stave.

3. The method of constructing a conical stave column formed of a plurality of eX- actly similar staves, each stave being tapered,

beveled, and dovetailed to fit each other; comprising connecting the dovetailed portion at the narrow end of one stave with the dovetailed portion of the broad end of the preceding stave, and sliding the stave along the preceding stave until they occupy corresponding positions, the beveled sides of each stave being radial to a circle of less diameter than the assembled columnwhereby PIBVl: one to the insertion of the last stave, the remainder of the column may be arranged so that the space for the last stave may be such that its widest part may correspond to the smaller end of said last stave; and the insertion in said space of the last similar stave whereby the column is brought to size.

Signed at Tacoma, Pierce county, Nashington, this lath day of October, 1911..

XVILLIAM It. RIPLEY.

lVitnesses M. F. MONEIL, 7. B. PENNEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Washington, D. 0.

Commissioner of Patents, 

